GEOG 2000: Regional Geography (Chaney): Black Sea / Global Exports

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Why Russia wants Ukraine's coastline and control of the Black Sea?

Russia and Ukraine are competitive global exporters of wheat.  95% of Ukraine’s wheat exports are transported via the Black Sea.  Stopping Ukraine from using the Black Sea essentially eliminates competition for Russian wheat exports and kills Ukraine’s ability to export other products destroying their economy.

Currently Russia controls Black Sea coastlines in Crimea (2014) and Georgia (2008). Getting Ukraine’s additional hundreds of miles of coastline would permit Russia more control over the Black Sea. 

More control would allow:

• guaranteed access to multiple year-round warm water ports
• protection of trade links with European markets and increase the pressure for dependency of southern Europe on Russian oil and gas. 

• creation of a secure buffer zone and unrestricted access to canals leading to the Mediterranean Sea which would give influence in the Mediterranean region.

• command of the Kerch Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.  The Sea of Azov has a canal (Volga-Don Canal) leading to the Caspian Sea. This would allow Russia the ability to block transportation between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea which would affect trade between Europe and Asia.

• claims for underwater rights (drilling, mining, etc.) attached to the coastlines.  It could also potentially give control and ownership for underwater pipelines such as the TurkStream and Blue Stream gas pipelines. 
• militarization of Black Sea coastline areas with radars, airfields, and air defense systems would give Russia the ability to locate foreign ships/surface vessels and to control the airspace over both the Black Sea and the entire Eastern Mediterranean region. 
• creation of disputes over who/what moves through the Black Sea would reduce foreign competition (not just Ukraine) for any Russian exports.  International importers want to avoid (time & money) disputes, so they will either buy from Russia or find other countries not using the Black Sea to transport their exports.

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There are several articles, reports, and videos within this course website that cover the issue of oil and natural gas. Use the tabs above to move to those pages.

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Russia is the world's largest exporter of wheat.

Ukraine is the 5th largest exporter of wheat and the largest exporter of seed oils.

War/conflict would affect global grain prices and increase food scarcity in parts of Europe, Northern Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

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Ukraine is considered the Breadbasket of Europe.  71% of Ukrainian land is agricultural.  It contains 25% of the world's highly fertile "black soil" (chernozem).